Grand Junction to Salt Lake City drive: Distance, time & best stops

The distance from Grand Junction to Salt Lake City is 284 miles, with a 4h20m driving time. The best road trip stops on the Grand Junction to Salt Lake City drive are the Mill Canyon Dinosaur Trail, Green River and Provo.

Planning a Grand Junction to Salt Lake City road trip itinerary

The Grand Junction to Salt Lake City drive takes you from western Colorado to the capital of Utah.

Grand Junction has several craft breweries to enjoy, but it is also the main hub of Colorado’s wine industry. The Whitewater Hill Vineyards is a good spot for tastings.

On the museums front, the Eureka McConnell Science Museum is all about button-pushing discovery. The Museum of the West covers regional history.

The highlight of Grand Junction, however, is the Colorado National Monument. Here, the 23-mile Rim Rock Drive connects stunning mesas and canyons for a proper taste of the American West.

For overnight Grand Junction accommodation, the La Quinta Inn and Hotel Maverick are really well-reviewed by guests.

Salt Lake City is the home of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, but life here goes beyond the Mormon faith.

Top Salt Lake City experiences include Great Salt Lake boat tours, trips to the world’s largest copper mine and walking tours around highlights such as Temple Square and Pioneer Park.

You can also take introductory bus tours, evening ghost tours and craft brewery tours by bike.

For Salt Lake City accommodation, plump for the SpringHill Suites if you want spacious and downtown. The Grand America Hotel, meanwhile, is more memorable sumptuous.

Grand Junction to Salt Lake City distance and driving time

By car, the distance from Grand Junction to Salt Lake City is 284 miles. That makes for a driving time of around four hours and 20 minutes. The quickest route is along I-70, US-191, US-6 and I-15.

The best stops to add to a Grand Junction to Salt Lake City road trip itinerary are the Mill Canyon Dinosaur Trail, Green River and Provo.

Best stops between Grand Junction and Salt Lake City: Mill Canyon Dinosaur Trail

In Mill Canyon, just off US-191, more than 200 dinosaur tracks and bones have been found in the sedimentary rock.

It’s possible to walk through the canyon, seeing the Cretaceous Era footprints, more than 100 million years old.

Download an interpretive brochure from the Bureau of Land Management before visiting so you know exactly what you’re looking at.

Grand Junction to Salt Lake City drive: Green River

The small riverside town of Green River is the starting point for rafting adventures through Labyrinth and Stillwater Canyon.

The Green River State Park has a golf course and myriad cottonwood trees for framing photos with.

The town is also home to the John Wesley Powell River History Museum, devoted to the one armed explorer and his extraordinary adventures in the region.

Just to the south of town, water shoots out of the ground from the Crystal Geyser, and local adventure companies can take you canyoning in Goblin Valley State Park.

Grand Junction to Salt Lake City road trip attractions: Provo

Provo is home to the Brigham Young University, which is home to a series of museums. These include the Bean Life Science Centre, the Museum of People and Cultures and the Museum of Art. All have pretty impressive collections.

Provo is also home to Utah Lake State Park. The state’s largest freshwater lake is a good bet for swimming, fishing and boating.

Other Provo experiences include High Country white-water rafting tours.